Please give a warm welcome to Scarlett Finn, author of Explicit Instruction.
I write romance. All of my novels have romance as their central theme. I’ve published in contemporary romance and romantic suspense, and have dallied in other romance genres in my private collection too.
Who or what inspires you?
Many things inspire me. I find that there are ideas all around us and even the simplest gesture or statement can lead to a spark of inspiration, which can be a springboard into the premise of a novel.
Has a dream every inspired any of your stories?
It could be said that my dream of being a writer has encouraged all of my stories. None of my dreams have directly inspired a story, but my daydreams do. I enjoy putting ideas of characters together in scenarios and trying to fathom ways out of the situations they find themselves in.
What advice do you have for writer’s just starting out?
The best piece of advice is to just keep on writing. Your craft will continue to develop as long as you keep going. We’re all always learning. No matter what, or how discouraged you are by any obstacles you encounter, you have to keep going. Any ideas, or thoughts you have, write them down, even if you don’t think they’re going somewhere. You never know when they might be useful!
Do you set writing goals and if so, what are they?
Absolutely! I find that goals are essential, especially since I started publishing. I set daily goals which vary depending on my business workload and family commitments. Having an idea of exactly where you want to be and on what timescale is very important to ensuring that you maintain discipline toward your writing.
Do you outline your stories or just go with the flow?
In every novel there has to be an element of flexibility. You never know exactly where your characters will take you. If you’re in the midst of a scene that’s drawing you in, there’s a good possibility it could take a turn that you don’t expect. If it feels right then you have to go with the flow and see where it takes you.
Do you have any writing rituals or interesting writing quirks?
I would certainly say that I have habits with my writing and in my approach to it. But the truth is, I can write anywhere! Whether I’m in a crowded airport or alone in my home, as long as I have pen and paper, or a laptop, I can write anywhere. I’ve written notes on napkins and narrative on beer mats. I’ve jotted down dialogue on the back of business contracts and prose on court documents. Sometimes the words just have to get out!
What project are you currently working on?
At the moment I’m finishing off the third installment of my Explicit series, Explicit Memory. It is complete, I’m in the final stage of editing, and so very nearly there.
What do you do to stay sane as a writer?
I write! I know it might sound crazy, but I always remember to write for pleasure. So even in my spare time I work on various projects just for fun, it allows me to keep hold of the joy I have always found in writing. Doing so also gives me the opportunity to explore new ideas that might be brewing in my mind.
Do you read your reviews and if so, how do you cope with a bad one?
When I first started publishing I checked every new review and the negative ones were like a slap in the face. It’s difficult to see someone write unhappy things about something that you have put your heart into and spent so much time on. But as I’ve developed and published more novels, I’ve found the negative reviews easier to deal with because the truth is reviews aren’t for the author, they are for the readers. One person’s opinion is just as valid as the next person’s and we all have our own personal likes and dislikes. So as long as people are talking about your novel, then you have to be grateful for their words.
I have found the writer’s community to be very supportive and welcoming. Please share writers that you recommend for us to check out.
You can find Scarlett on her blog, website, Twitter, Facebook, Facebook group, Goodreads, & Goodreads group.